Escape to the Country is a British daytime television reality property-buying/real estate programme, created by Talkback Thames, which premieres on network BBC One, produced by John Comerford and is repeated on BBC Two. It also airs internationally in broadcast syndication. The program helps potential buyers find their dream home in the rural UK by showcasing three properties (including a mystery property) for inspection, then asking that week's guests to guess the market price. Episodes also feature information regarding the suburb presented, for example local industry and history. It first aired in October 2002.

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There are two versions of each episode produced - a shorter 45-minute version with only 3 houses shown and a longer 60-minute version. The short version usually airs on BBC One weekday afternoons (usually in the 15:00 slot) and the longer on BBC One weekdays at 10:00 or BBC Two evenings at 19:00. Escape to the Country is often credited as being the forerunner of other property/lifestyle shows such as A Place in the Sun. Repeat episodes are shown on Home. Another version of the series "Escape to the Continent", is based on exotic international locations, like Portugal and Malta.

Produced by Boundless, part of Fremantle UK and shown to air from 2002, the basic premise of the show is that a person/family wishes to relocate from their current city home to a more peaceful and rural retreat. It is then the job of the show's presenter to find four houses for the family to view via laptop computer in their own homes. The family must then choose two out of the four houses to go and view for themselves. In addition, there is also the option of choosing the presenter's 'mystery house'.

The format of the show changed in series 6 to accommodate viewer demand to see more houses and more local information[citation needed]. Contributors now view all four houses, of which the fourth is the mystery house. The mystery house usually has something unique about it that will either make the contributors fall in love with or hate it. Added to the show is a taster day in which the contributors sample local delights, gain historical knowledge and visit local attractions to get a feel for the area they are planning to move to. Series 6 aired in August 2007 on BBC One, while series 7 and 8 aired back-to-back in autumn 2008. Series 9 began on 23 February in a new slot of 15:45 on BBC Two.

The format was modified yet again. The number of properties the couples viewed was reduced to three, with the third being the mystery house. Series 12 consisted of 75 shows and was broadcast from November 2011 on BBC Two with the addition of new title and credit sequences.

In Australia, Escape to the Country airs on Seven Network's free-to-air digital channel 7TWO Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and the Lifestyle Channel on Foxtel Subscription TV every week night.

In Canada, Escape to the Country is seen on Gusto TV Monday nights, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. "Escape to the Country" can also be seen on CBC weekdays at 1:00pm.

In Sweden, Escape to the Country airs on TV8, Monday to Thursday nights at 8:00pm (7:00pm local time).

In the Netherlands, Escape to the Country airs since April 2011 on SBS 6, Saturday nights at 5.00 pm (6.00 pm local time). Additionally, most viewers in the Netherlands can watch the show on the BBC channels that are distributed by cable operators. As a result of its availability in the Netherlands it features in the novel The Detour.[6]

In the United States, "Escape to the Country" is viewable on Netflix online streaming as of March 2017.

In late 2017, Australian Television Network, the ABC, announced it was going to air a local version of the show, to be titled 'Escape from the City' and produced by Fremantle Media Australia. The official Facebook page says: "Follow everyday Australians as they leave the big smoke behind for a life in rural, coastal or regional Australia. With our team of experts, house-hunters will be taken on a tour of properties in their dream country location, and given the chance to sample a slice of life in their ideal town."